Change is reality for every high-school boys basketball program at the start of a new season, and it was especially true for the Peninsula Seahawks when their practices opened Nov. 14.

The Seahawks knew they would lose six seniors after last season. Further subtractions came during the offseason as shooting guard Max Reyes was lost with a football-related knee injury, and three players with remaining eligibility — Austin Filkins, Gavin Grant and Jared Fahmy — chose not to play.

As the Seahawks open play this week against North Mason and Olympic, they’ll have just one returning player: Junior Cody Olson, who will move from point guard to shooting guard.

Kerry Yousey, Peninsula’s fifth-year head coach, likes what Olson brings to the table in terms of tenacity and scoring ability.

“He played the two (guard) all summer, and we thought he was one of our better scoring options,” Yousey said. “If somebody else can bring the ball up the court, it’ll free him up a little to focus on scoring, defending and rebounding.”

The team will be a bit smaller than last season, especially after 6-foot-7 forward Nick Dickinson graduated, but Olson said the Seahawks can be strong in other areas.

“We’ve got good athleticism — not great, but a little above average, I believe,” he said. “For us to be successful, we’ve got to make a change and focus on the little things.”

That starts on the defensive end, where Peninsula struggled en route to a 3-18 record last winter.

“We’re going to work a lot on defense, and we don’t want teams penetrating, getting into the lane,” said sophomore Nolan Winter, a first-year varsity player who will see time at point guard.

Winter has a good shooting stroke but, like graduated senior Taylor Leacy, he probably won’t be a huge offensive threat from the point.

“Everyone likes to score, but in this offense, the point guard is more of a passer,” he said. “He gets the assists, and if you score, it feels good, but it feels equally good to dish out the points.”

Peninsula won’t tower over many teams, and its talent in the frontcourt is raw, but Yousey thinks juniors Patrick Hennessey and brothers Dane and Jake Weiss can make an impact.

“They’re all about 6-4, 6-5, and we’ll just have to see how they handle this level,” Yousey said. “I think if they are motivated and want to get out there, they’ll be just fine. But it’s a little different than JV, so we’ll see when the games actually start playing if they’re ready to rise to the occasion and get after it.”

The Seahawks have several other options in the backcourt, including juniors James Silberman and Justin Erickson, and sophomore Shane Hanon.

Senior Andrew Buxton, a transfer from Gig Harbor High School, also joins the team after he got some varsity minutes with the Tides last year.

“From what I’ve seen, he’s a good shooter, and he’s an overall good player,” Winter said of Buxton. “He likes to attack, so he’s going to help the team in the long run.”

Peninsula also could gain quickness and athleticism in the backcourt if junior Bryce Shirley is officially accepted as a transfer from South Kitsap; his case in the appeals process, Yousey said.

Wins have been few and far between for the team in the past two years, but that may start to change if the players continue to buy into Yousey’s system.

“Beyond Cody, none of them played varsity for us last year,” Yousey said. “So everybody’s hungry, everybody’s got something to prove, everybody wants to show what they can do.

“And that’s kind of fun. Because in years past, coming into the season, people kind of knew where they sat ... and now it’s just open competition.”

PENINSULA SEAHAWKS BOYS BASKETBALL
Coach: Kerry Yousey, fifth season

2010-11 record: 3-18 overall, sixth in Class 3A South Puget Sound League, missed district playoffs

Defending league champion: Lakes

Key losses: G/F Conor Horkan, F Nick Dickinson, G Taylor Leacy, G Saul Wiles, G Max Reyes

Key returner: G Cody Olson, jr.

Key newcomers: G Nolan Winter, so., G Andrew Buxton, sr., F Dane Weiss, jr., F Jake Weiss, jr., F Patrick Hennessey, jr.

Biggest upside: “We have a lot of chemistry together,” Winter said. “Everybody knows each other as friends, so it’s going to be fun.”

Opponents to watch: Lakes, Decatur, Auburn Mountainview

SEAHAWKS’ SCHEDULE
Nov. 29 at North Mason, 7 p.m.
Nov. 30 vs. Olympic, 7 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Klahowya, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7 vs. Sequim, 7 p.m.
Dec. 10 at Gig Harbor, 7 p.m.
Dec. 12 vs. Shelton, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 at Franklin Pierce, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Washington, 7 p.m.
Dec. 28 at North Kitsap, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 vs. Steilacoom, 7 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. Decatur, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 at Enumclaw, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs. Auburn Mountainview, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. Bonney Lake, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Lakes, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Decatur, 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 vs. Enumclaw, 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Auburn Mountainview, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 at Bonney Lake, 7 p.m.

Feb. 3 vs. Lakes, 7 p.m.Sports Editor Neil Pierson can be reached at 253-853-9246 or by email at neil.pierson@gateline.com. Follow him on Twitter, @gateway_neil.